Britain’s Food Position

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 44, 20 February 1941, Page 7

Britain’s Food Position

Luxurious Standards To Go Overboard PLENTY OP BREAD, BUT ANIMAL GROUP SHORT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 18. A debate on tho food situation was . raised in the House of Lords by Lord f Bledisloe, who asked if the Government was satisfied as to the prospective avail- ( ability during the current year of all f essential food in sufficient quantity to provide adequate rations for the civilian population, the fighting forces and the , indispensable Navy. Lord Dawson expressed the view that • there should be more near equitation by the food granted to the Forces and to ( civilians, particularly as this was a ( totalitarian war—tho first of its kind — . in which civilians contributed a larger ' measure of fighting than ever beforp. He asked, therefore, for tho resumption ' of the Army ration. , Submarine Danger Replying to the debate, the Food j Minister, Lord Woolton, referred to the ( submarine danger and remarked that ■ the problem was to get tho most essential foods into the country. So long as the people knew the problem and knew ( that they were being handled impartially and with courage and foresight, they would face up to them. He described the bread ration as , strong. Supplies were ample and the . price substantially unchanged as compared with the pre-war period. Assisted by scientific advice, he had been , assured that there would be an adequate supply of white bread for those who, ( some considered, were ill-advised enough to desire it. There would also, in the months to come, be fortified broadband in this t“e authorities were following the Americans, who were already engaged in this fortification of bread. For others there would be wholemeal bread in quantities to meet their needs. The greatest weakness was in the animal protein group—bacon, eggs, cheese and meat. He did not disguise that he was greatly concerned about the shortage of some of these commodities, particularly cheese. Regarding meat, we had during the war, until the last few months, eaten probably a great deal more than was ' good for us. When the meat ration was ! 2s 2d per head the consumption wns only Is 9d. Mediterranean Transports Then the authorities were faced with the issue that ships of a certain size ; and speed normally, to a considerable extent, engaged in bringing meat to j England, were required to take troops to the Mediterranean. He saw no possibility of getting those ships back while the Mediterranean campain continued, and no possibility of raising the meat ration from Is 2d. But meat was not the only food that was imported. There were potatoes and t other vegetables, oils and fats. A store of oils and fats had been built up on ! which they could rely for a long time, and with the milk supply would provide [ all the energy food we needed. , As regarded feeding stuffs for pigs, L poultry, cattle and sheep, tho problem . was again that of ships. Lord Woolton ' said that we must maintain our dairy herds at whatever cost. After expressing satisfaction with the national milk scheme he added that farmers had been asked to produce crops that would make ( the dairy herds as little dependent as ( possible on imported food. | As to vegetables, there was a surplus of potatoes. The supplies of fruit would not be more than 50 per cent, of what they had been in the past. This gave a new importance to the carrot, and tho Minister of Agriculture would ask for 30,000 acres to be planted this year. Fourteen thousand acres of onions would also be planted. Lord Woolton said he was working out a plan to ensure that cheese went i to those who particularly needed Tt. Dependence on Home Production t We had grown luxurious in our standards, he proceeded. It was impossible 1 for any nation to wage war and live up > to the standard we had grown accustomed to. We must be ready for great- - er restrictions. We would have to go l back to the years of simpler living, , when we depended on our own land—--1 when in it we grew a very healthy race 1 that made the modern world of to-dav. y We would be no worse either in body r or mind for a great dependence on the i things we could grow. *• Our plans for home production and t for importation havo been carefully correlated,” said Lord Woolton. “An s agricultural policy has been worked out a to a plan. The Agriculture Committees I of the country have been told just what y we want, and the evidence of last year { has demonstrated quite clearly that the ■; farmers will leave nothing in their capi acity undone to meet the nation’s , needs.” t Stocks of powdered milk, of which I I importation of all that could be got i from overseas had been arranged, were held so that in the event of emergency it would ensure that children and tho , hospitals were supplied with milk. Oranges would be imported to the great- * est possible extent of our capacity. Regarding military rations, Lord : Woolton said that representations to the f military authorities on the lines sug- ' gestod by Lord Dawson had met with a * cordial response an dit would not be 1 long beforo something was done to meet y the criticism so fairly made.

Mere Nutritious Food for Soldiers LONDON, Feb. 18. A complaint that the ration for mill tary trainees was at least 50 per cent more nutritious than that for civilians although in many instances the mer were doing less work, was made by Lord

Bledisloe ia the food debate in the House of Lords. He said cheese was the chief substitute for meat, but farm workers who , needed cheese were found to be taking a midday meal of bread and jam be cause cheese was unobtainable. Soldiers received fourfold as much bacon and ham as civilians, three and a-half fold as much butchers’ meat, two and a half fold as much butter and margarine, over two-fold as much sugar, and 30 per cent.' more tea. These differences seemed improper if Britain wanted to gain the full value from the labour of civilians. Lord Addison, agreeing with Lord - Bledisloe, declared that when a soldier . is on leave his meat ration keeps his , family for a week. “We want to feed i the soldier generously, but in some In- : stances the rations are excesaiye,’ *